Page 53 of Loving Mister Stratford
“I managed to catch her,” Meredith began to explain;“I don’t believe she struck her head.”
Dr. McCullom nodded.“May I?” he asked before taking Odette’s wrist in his strong fingers. He stood and silently tested her pulse before moving on to check her eyes and throat, his strong, warm fingers palpated her neck.“Have you eaten today? Had enough to drink?” Odette nodded in reply.“Is it alright if I check your abdomen?” he asked next.
Odette felt like a lost child and couldn’t help but look to Meredith for reassurance. Her sister-in-law gave her a small smile and a single nod. Odette agreed.
His large hands were surprisingly delicate as they pressed and kneaded, moving along her waist and stomach to her lower abdomen.“If I may ask, when were your last courses?”
“I—” Odette’s cheeks caught fire as she stammered.“That is…I mean—”
The doctor gave her a kind flicker of a smile that wasn’t the least bit patronizing.“I realize it’s indelicate, but an inquiry was presented to your lady’s maid. She’s only been in your employ for a couple of weeks and had nothing to report. Just try to remember to the best of your ability.”
Odette tried to think, to peer through the haze in her fuzzy head. Her life had been thrown upside down, righted, and then knocked on its ear time and time again over the past several months. It was hard enough to remember who she was, let alone when she’d last experienced her courses.
“Four weeks,” Odette finally answered and then frowned.
Had it been while they were still at Bridleton?
No.
She’d still been living with her mother in the West End apartments. Her pains had been rather troublesome and she’d requested Alyssa borrow some of her mother’s special tonic for the aches.
“Eight. Eight weeks.” She added more confidently. Only then did what he was asking sink in. She’d missed her courses. He nodded once and Odette’s eyes flew to Meredith as she remembered what she’d told her at Bridleton. Missed courses meant,“A baby?”
“It’s not outside of the realm of possibility,” explained the doctor.“Are your courses normally quite regular?”
“Yes,” she replied in a whisper. Her mother had always said her courses were like clockwork and could plan a calendar around when her pains would begin.
“There’s really no way to be certain until we give it several more weeks, but, given your fainting and nausea, I would say a child is a distinct possibility. I would, however, caution you that it’s still very early. And, if you are amenable, I would like to check for any bleeding just because you did take a fall…even if Lady Sommerfeld was quick enough to catch you.” Odette agreed and Meredith and Lily remained with her all the while, but she was in too much shock to be overly self-conscious. The quick exam was over even before she could ponder it, her mind was too far gone with the possibility that a new life grew within her.
“You have no pain and no cramping, no bleeding,” Dr. McCullom summarized as he scrubbed at his hands in the nearby basin.“I suggest remaining abed for the rest of the day. Be sure to drink plenty of broth and tea; rest when you feel you need to. These first few months of pregnancy can be difficult for some women. Do not be surprised if your nausea increases, but that should taper off after another month or two. If it does not or if you experience any pains, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am in the process of opening my new office not far from here. I will leave my card with your butler and give instructions to your maid.” Odette was still in too much shock to do more than nod.“Would you like me to speak to Mr. Stratford before I take my leave?”
Odette’s head whipped up.
Simon.
He was going to be a father.
She was unsure how he was going to react to the news. If he’d traveled to the end of the country to find some peace to complete his work, how would he feel about the obligation and interruption of a baby in the household? It certainly tempered her excitement about becoming a mother, morphing it into nerves more than anything.
What was worse, how was she to explain her husband’s absence to Dr. McCullom without eliciting pity she did not desire, nor making a villain out of Simon?
As if sensing Odette’s indecision, Lily saved her from having to speak.“My brother is away attending to his work at the moment, but thank you. It’s been lovely to see you again, Dr. McCullom.” She rose and offered to show him out.
“Always a pleasure, Lady Shefford,” replied the doctor and he nodded in Odette’s direction.“Mrs. Stratford.” He and Lily rounded the bed to head toward the door, but not before he paused near Meredith and, unexpectedly, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She looked up and gave him a tremulous smile, her indigo eyes glistening and suspiciously bright. It was a very familiar gesture for a man to make toward a woman who was not his wife and, had she not known Meredith’s true love and devotion to her husband, she might have questioned it. Clearly, Dr. McCullom was an old and close friend, indeed.
“Lady Sommerfeld.”
Meredith inclined her head in thanks and Lily and the doctor took their leave, chatting amiably as they strode down the hall.
“I will leave you to rest,” Meredith said softly and gathered her skirts to stand. Before she could move away, however, Odette reached out and grasped Meredith’s fingers. Her sister-in-law froze.
“I’m sorry,” Odette blurted. She didn’t know if it was the right or wrong thing to say, she just knew she couldn’t allow Meredith to think she didn’t care. Odette couldn’t help but remember how broken and sad Meredith had been that afternoon at Bridleton. She and George had been trying to start their family for years…and here Odette was so young and foolish that the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.
“Whyever are you sorry?” Meredith dropped back down into the nearby chair.
“Because I—” she tried to begin lamely, but couldn’t finish. What could she say?
“Oh, my dear.” Meredith readjusted her grip on Odette’s fingers soshewas somehow now the one comfortingher. An unchecked tear escaped Odette’s eye.“There is nothing for which you need to be sorry.”
